Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine and the Open University are supporting the bid by the Legacy Consortium to buy the Millennium Dome and convert it into a high-tech science park.
Both universities said they were keen to forge links with the venture to secure space for spin-off companies. The Pounds 105 million bid is led by property developer Robert Bourne.It was thought to be favourite after Japanese bank Nomura pulled out, but ministers are concerned about whether it can find funding.
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